To ask what's so great about being sober

[sallysaysrelax23]

There's so much talk about how great sobriety is these days, I don't think it's ever been cooler to be sober.

I desperately need to lose weight and I know drinking isn't helping my case. I drink over the weekend (usually wine) and I may have a gin and tonic a few nights during the week. I'm certainly not one for getting sloshed like I did in my twenties but I'm afraid I still really enjoy that relaxed, tipsy feeling I get from one or two drinks at home in the evening.

I don't think it affects my sleep or my mood the next day particularly (I know many will say it does and I just don't realise it) but I know I make poor food choices after a drink and that the calories in wine and gin are pretty significant too. So I'm looking for inspiration to cut down - what do you love about not drinking?

We used to drink but stopped for health reasons. DH has come off his BP medication completely, which is excellent news. We both feel better physically and mentally.

I personally think it's really fucking weird we use the word sober for anyone who doesn't drink or doesn't really drink. To me it's about somone who no longer drinks after problem drinking.

Anything else is just nit drinking, putting this weird culty able on it also doesn't make room for cutting down.

Like for you op, if you want to lose weight drinking less will help. You don't need to stop all together as it becomes really restrictive and a big deal.

I don't really drink, but I'll have the oodd one. I've had very long periods without drinking but it's not being sober. It's definitely been helpful to lose weight, so is that not enough for you to start cutting down as that's a goal?

Be glad you’ve never had it- it’s bloody awful.

Hangxiety is due to alcohol being a central nervous system depressant so to counter act that, your brain dumps a load of stimulants like cortisol into your system to keep homeostasis. Unfortunately the alcohol wears off before the stimulants do so you end up feeling horribly anxious, like a mental hangover. It’s honestly one of the worst feelings I’ve ever experienced and I know lots of people who get it. It’s called “beer fear” and other names too so it’s quite common. Usually you wake up in a sweaty panic at 3am worrying about what you did/said the night before and then it spirals into more anxiety and paranoia. It’s vile.

Haha same! My stomach now can't take enough booze to get drunk! It's just not really something my body likes!

I’m a social drinker. I don’t see the point of having one or two watching the TV, nor do I really drink at home unless we have guests.

I do see the point of having 3-6 drinks out with friends. I don’t embarrass myself, I know my limit, and I enjoy it. I don’t really get hangovers - tiredness maybe but no sickness or headaches. Always do a pint of water when I get home.

OP, this might just be my self-perception but I think I look better facially when I don’t drink, particularly when I knock the wine on the head. Eyes wider and clearer, less puffed and jowly. It’s an easier win than exercise 😜

I also have more time to do stuff in the evenings, a couple of glasses (okay, three) tends to mean a relaxed evening but I do toddle off to bed for a disrupted sleep, which also leads to weight gain, and I feel foggy the next morning. Couldn’t say what I really gained, looking at all the stuff I could have done just lying there.

My DB stopped drinking altogether and he reckons he’s reclaimed many hours a week. He wasn’t a terribly heavy drinker, but it was an almost daily habit. He has hobbies now, instead of lager.

Also, the money! Shopping bills are way less scary.

No headache/grogginess the next day
Saved £
Lost weight
Hair & skin in best condition of my life

Also sleep better!

I think the positives are different for people.

For me I just don’t like the taste or the feeling of not being in control. I have a sip every now and again and I’m just not into it.

I couldn’t imagine my busy life under the influence of alcohol. But I’m not judgemental at others drinking, it’s nice to see people having fun. I do have a couple of relatives who (to me) seem like they drink a little too much, which at times negatively influences their lives.

I stopped regular drinking a couple of months ago. Weight fell off, skin so much better etc.
I went to Turkey all inclusive last week. I hated the drinking. Even drinking moderately my skin broke out in spots, I gained weight - urgh 🤮

I wish Id not gone. I now decline invites “to go out drinking” and only meet mates for fun stuff, like theme parks etc, to keep temptation out of reach.

I regularly stop drinking for weeks at a time. Sorry to say I don't lose weight, I don't feel any better, nor sleep better and my skin isn't clearer etc. I don't get hangovers anyway.
But I do think I drink too much and that it can't be doing my liver any good. I almost wish I did get hangovers as that would be an incentive!

I have been sober for a very long time. Consequently, I am still alive, unlike many of my peers. Of my peers who are still alive, I look a hell of a lot better and am in much better health. So, vanity is one reason.

I've never drunk alcohol including wine because I've never found one that I like the taste of.
What I like is...
Being able to drive there and back.
Being aware of surroundings.
Being aware of situations.
Not feeling poorly the next day.
Not making a drunken arse of myself....I manage that sober tbh.
However, I have nothing against those who do drink.

Loads more energy - especially in the evenings
Clear head
No backache from liver overload (I can get that from just a couple of small glasses of wine)
No queasiness
More money
Less inclined to binge snack while tipsy or to crave sugary carbs next day

A quadruple gin on a night after work? A few glasses of wine in the evening? Have you actually totalled up how many units of alcohol you're drinking? NHS guidance is limit of 14 units per week. One of your gins is likely to be 4 units. A bottle of wine has around 10.

If you consider drinking to be a treat and you have the tolerance to drink that much not be drunk, in my opinion you're getting into problem territory. Not just losing weight, I mean long term slow damage to internal organs.

What if you swap it away from drinking? Imagine someone loving chocolate - but instead of a normal bar (or single glass of wine) on a Saturday they're eating a family sized bar (your bottle) each day on a weekend. Sometimes they like having some during the week too, but rather than eating a single normal bar, they eat 4 (your quadruples). It's not enjoying chocolate, its an excess and a problem.

Maybe I just don't understand, I've never felt the urge to drink. I don't drink in the house and can go months without drinking. But you don't just enjoy a glass. You drink to excess.

Lifting weights makes me feel great and can't really go to the gym after a few.

I don’t drink alcohol because I don’t like the taste or the feeling of being light headed, one glass of wine makes me feel odd. If people like that feeling then that’s up to them, it’s just not for me. I see more and more articles and posts about being sober, is that not normal life?

I don’t like to hear/see people using alcohol as a reward. To me that’s just an excuse to drink.
Look at what alcohol does to a body, then see if it’s what you want to ‘reward’ yourself with.

Saves money
Better for your health
No worrying about being over the limit
Better sleep
Better skin

Your post op was like reading my my mind !

I've been sober for 6 months and it does feel great. Rather than feeling groggy on a Monday morning, I feel rested and quite energetic, have got up early to do a workout today - I would never have done that before when I drank at the weekend.

I am just quite relaxed and on an even keel. Not as up and down as before. I eat loads healthier because I don't crave carbs and pick me ups. So I've lost nearly 4 stone since January.

But caveat is - I drank too much and it was impacting all aspects of my life physically and mentally - if I had just had the odd drink beforehand I doubt I'd be seeing all these benefits now.

No hangovers, no beer fear, no regret after a night out, cheaper, less drama, always remember everything from events etc..my skin goes horrible if I drink, I sleep better without drinking, it's better for my general health

Better sleep, better skin weight loss all these things.
But also far better sex!
Apparently it’s around 90 days of not drinking for your body to fully show the impact of not drinking.
Someone mentioned it up thread but for me this was the biggest one for me. Clearing my head of thinking about alcohol, no thoughts of ‘oh should I?’ ‘Is my drinking a problem?’ ‘Should I shouldn’t I drink?’- it was exhausting and I’m free of all of that now.

Op, I think I’m like you, wanted to cut back but still be able to enjoy a drink at the weekend or whenever.

I cut right down, i only drink alcohol on one night of the weekend, I try to limit that to say two or three glasses of wine, with dinner, sitting in garden etc, but obviously more if I’m socialising. During the week I now drink a lot of water and exercise most days.

my eyes are brighter and clearer and my skin is healthy looking, I sleep better, I have move energy, I don’t have that slightly groggy feeling, and I don’t really think about it now, also when I do drink the hangovers are no where near as bad, it’s very mild, I think as I’m fully hydrated,my body processes it better. I also don’t make poor food choices in the evening after a couple. You know when the crisps or nuts suddenly seem a great idea.

overall I look better and feel better. I have more energy and wake up refreshed. However you need to give it about a month, of nothing, and then factor it back in in moderation , reset your clock so to speak.

good luck, in my experience it’s worth it.

I stopped drinking years ago - I didn’t drink much to begin with (except for my uni days and early 20s)
Never really got any satisfaction from it, I dislike the feeling of being drunk/losing control & hangovers are even worse.
I also remember being sober on a night out (I was the designated driver) & seeing for the first time just how obnoxious, loud & annoying lots of drunk people are.

I’d rather eat the calories & have tasty food than waste them on a drink.